Dawn came grey and cold through the briefing room windows.
The benches were packed. Hunters from every squad filled the space—some still in field gear, some rubbing sleep from their eyes, all of them quiet. The usual chatter was gone. No one joked. No one complained about the coffee.
Alistair stood at the podium. His face was grim, the lines deeper than usual. He hadn't slept. The team could see it in the way his hands gripped the edges of the lectern.
He spoke without preamble.
"The Ashen Guard is moving to full war footing. All leaves are canceled. All patrols are doubled. The Council has authorized emergency protocols not used since the last major breach."
The room stayed silent.
Hunters exchanged glances. Some nodded. Some just stared at the floor. They knew what this meant. They'd heard the rumors—the pendant, the coalition, the blood moon. Now the rumors had teeth.
